Voice Over Wi-Fi

No more network coverage problems

The VoWiFi landscape

Telecommunication Operators have always struggled to achieve 100% coverage, and to provide basic services like voice and text everywhere. LTE networks are beginning to be a reality but the increase in spectrum and network efficiency will not solve the in-building coverage problems especially in high-frequencies starting from 1.8 GHz. In this scenario of poor indoor coverage, voice over Wi-Fi became part of the Operator’s agendas for the past years and will continue to be with VoLTE.

Faced with the lack of effective and quick solutions from operators, subscribers usually solve their coverage problem by using OTT services like Skype or Viber. These OTT applications used to be a niche novelty but in the past few years started to be a serious threat to Telecommunication Operators. According to a recent study by Fortune, telecom companies count $386 billion in lost revenue to Skype and other OTT apps.

Telecommunication Operators have always striven to protect their voice revenues, including revenues from roaming. This has been the key argument for not adopting a voice over Wi-Fi approach, even when the technology became available. Times have changed, and since iOS8 shipped with native support for VoWiFi, subscriber demand for this service has increased. Some Android models also bring native support, but this is not widespread on these devices.

T-Mobile in the US has launched a Wi-Fi Calling solution back in September 2014. Other operators are taking similar approaches (like EE in the UK), allowing users to make and receive voice and text communications while connected to a Wi-Fi network. However, operators that have launched voice over Wi-Fi struggle to reach all their subscribers as only a few device manufacturers are currently supporting Wi-Fi Calling, on a limited set of devices from their portfolio. And take-up is dependent upon handset replacement cycles.

Most recently, GSMA Universal Profile, supported by Google, to unify the regional variances of RCS and to accelerate the mass-market reach of RCS in all Android devices. Whilst not aiming to extend the feature set of RCS, Universal Profile will simplify, unify and lay the foundation for future A2P BOT services to be offered to RCS communities.

The WIT VoWifi solution addresses this by:

Providing downloadable Android VoWiFi app;.

That connects through the EPDG using a secure IPSec tunnel;

Allows the user to choose the Wi-Fi networks on which they wish to make and receive calls.

Beyond the scope of this solution description, the WIT VoWiFi solution can be extended to tablets, PC and web end-points.

WIT VoWiFi can also include Video Calling capability, allowing MNOs to launch a high quality video calling service without the dependency on ViLTE devices, as a way to counteract Apple Facetime and WhatsApp Video Calling.

Benefits for Mobile Operators

Offload traffic from cellular network to Wi-Fi.

Increase network coverage.

Reduce cost in femtocells or repeaters.

Increase customer satisfaction.

Offer an alternative to Skype, and use tariff minutes.

WIT VoWiFi can also include Video Calling capability, allowing MNOs to launch a high quality video calling service without the dependency on ViLTE devices, as a way to counteract Apple Facetime and WhatsApp Video Calling.

Benefits for Fixed Line Operators

Extend the value of the fixed line number by extending the reach to mobile devices.